Exercising apparatus



March 2, 1948. P. A. B AILLEAUX EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Oct; 2, 1944' 2 Sheets-Sheet l I I 1 49 /4 in I 3nventor: P404 A. 54/145402.

attorney.

March 2, 1948. P. A. BAILLEAUX EXERCISING APPARATUS 2 Sfieets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 2,. 1944 lnventor; 1 ,404 ,4. BA/LAEAZ/X.

Gttorneg.

Patented Mar. 2, 1948 nxuncrsiuc APPARATUS Paul A. name, Glendale, Calif.

Application October 2, 1944,:Ser ial No. 5 56,7-'72 4 Claims. 272-81) This invention relates to portable exercising apparatus. g

It is an object of this invention to provide such apparatus which may be readily set up for use or folded into a compact form to occupy reduced space and to be readily portable. ":Itii's another object of this invention to provide such 'apparatus' whichis entirely self supporting when in use, a'ndwhich-is adapted to fold into 'a'base'member when not in use.

A It is another object of this invention to provide such apparatus adapted for use in connection with a variety of body development exercises. i

It is another object of this invention to provide such apparatus which may be readily advide such apparatus embodying a novel form of chest weight mechanism.

'Chest weight mechanisms usually require a support capable 1 of resisting a substantial force acting in a generally horizontal direction. In exercisers embodying such apparatus, and intended for home use or to be portable, itis-difficult to provide an adequate support for this purpose. It is thus another object of this invention to provide improved support means for such mechanism.

It is-another object of this invention to provide. such apparatus which may be" readily set ,up for use or folded into a compact vform to occupy reducedspace and to be readilyportable and incorporating chest weight mechanism, wherein the means which serves to -maintain i such mechanism in position for use, serves addi- "tional1y to provide a table for supporting the body in a reclining position.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which maybe made more easily apparent .from a consideration of one embodiment of the invention. For'this purpose there is shown a form in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the'present specification. This form will" now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken ina limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best a defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: r Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure. 2 is an end elevation, partly in section;

2. on an enlarged scale, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail section taken on line 33 of Figure 1, certain parts being omitted for clari s; and I Figure 4 is a detail section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2. I r I v i Referring to Figure 1- of the drawings, apparatus incorporating the invention, as set up and arranged for one type of exercise, is shown in full lines, the apparatus arranged for a different type of exercise being shown by broken lines. The chest weight mechanism is indicated generally by the numeral I and is mounted in a rectangular box-like base member or cabinet 2, the lid 3 of the box serving, .When desired, to maintain such mechanism in position for use. When not in use, the chest weight mechanism I may be lowered so as to be enclosed within the base 2, as indicated by |a in Figure 1, the lid 3 serving to close the top of the base. In addition to exercises involving the use of chest weights, it is intended that the apparatus be used in connection with various bodily development and posture exercises requiring the body to be supported in a reclining position, and for this purpose a body supporting member or table which may be inclined at any one of several angles is provided.

cated at 3-0 and 3-11.

The chest weight mechanism 1 is mounted on a tubular rectangular frame 10 having oppositely extending pintles l I, I2 at its lower end by which the frame is supported on bars I3 and [4,

which may conveniently be angle irons secured to the oppositeside members I5 and it of the base 2. The upper member I! of-the frame I9 is pivotally attached to the lid 3 near one end thereof by brackets I9 and 20 secured to the lid. The other end of the lid 3 is hingedly secured to the base 2 by conventional hinges 2|,

The frame l0 and lid {cooperate to support each other with their connected ends above the base 2. When the frame l0 and the lid 3 are so positioned that the frame It! is substantially vertical, the friction of the pintles II and I2 on the bars l3 and 14, due to the weight of the lid and the frame, is relied on to prevent movement of the'pintles along' these'bars. The full l ines of F ure 1 indicate the frame H1 in this "position, wherein it form'sa strut for supporting-the lid" 3 on the base 2. However, for inclined positions of the frame I corresponding to lesser inclinations of the lid Or the table 3, under which conditions the weight of these parts would urge the pintles I I and I2 to move along the bars I3 and I4, pairs of spaced stop means 22 are provided on the bars for engaging the pintles II and I2 and preventing such movement. Since with the frame I 0 inclined, the weight of the lid 3 and the frame always urges the pintles. II and I2 to move in'one-direction, these stops 22 may comprise means forming notches 25 which open on 4 upwardly to the pulley 42, and over the pulley 42 to the hand grip 46. With such a cable and pulley arrangement, the load on the hand grips 45 and 46 caused by the weighted element 3i is always equalized. Further, with such an arrangement, equal and opposite movements of the hand grips cause the weighted element 3| to float or be supported by the cable without appreciable movement, Thus, exercises involving such movements Fmay be taken' against "a: constant resistance.

- Whentheweigh'ted elementfilis not supported one side and oppositely to said direction of movement of the frame III. When it is desired to lower the lid 3, it is first raised sufficiently to lift the frame lfikto freeathe.

and I4 or from whichever pair of notches 22 they happen to be engaging, and the lower end.of the.

frame I0 is swung to the right to cause the pintles .II and, I 2 to. engage the \desired vpair of notches 22. Or if it is desired to fold the frame I 0.within the .base .2, .the pintles .aremaintained out of engagement with the angles .I3 and I4 as the lid 3 and the frame III are lowered, until the pintles rest.on:the bars I3 and adjacent the. right hand end thereof (position Ia of Figure -1) and the lid..3 restsion .toppf the base2.

'Tofacilitate. lowering. the frame I from the verticalposition-shown in Figure .1 to its folded. position within -the .base 2, apair of sloping bars .21 :and. .28. are provided on-the side members I5 .and.I 6..and.-above the support bars 1I3.and I4.

.Th'en,.if the lid 3 .israised suificiently, the frame IlJ may .beswung to cause the pintles II and I2;

.to rest on these bars, which will support the pintles .free of .the stops 22 as the frame I0 is swung to the-right,

Thechestweight mechanism, comprises an upwardlydirected guide .made up of :a pair of- ,parallehrodspr bars SO'Which-eXtendbetWeen the :uppercross member I! andza similar lower cross .member I8tof'the frame 40, and "have a weight .carrying member 3| freely slidable thereon. The

.spacedends .32.and 33of'thermember 3! are eachprovided with a pair of hook portions 33--a formingseats for supporting the weights 34=and 3.5,: which may conveniently be-in the'form of dumbbells. Apair of spaced coaxial pulleys 35 .and 3.1 are rotatably carried by the member 3 I.

.A stationary .member 38 ismounted onthe iupper cross member I! of the frame I=andpivotally supports a .pair' of pulleysupports 39 and 4%) for swinging movement about axes generally parallel-to the-rods 30. As best-shown in Figures .3.and 4,.the member 38 issecured to the cross member I] by the rods 39, which:pass through thecross memberand a U-shapedportion 38-11 of .the member .38 which-straddles the member .I'l, .Pulley supports 39 and40respectively carry, .-p.u1leys 4-I and -42: .An equalizing pulley 43 is rotatably mounted on the back of the member .38. Asis common practice in-suchmechanism, the axes about which the pulley'supports 39 and 40 pivot, coincide substantially with the .axes of cables joiningthe pulleys 36 and 4|, and pulleys 3 1 and 42, the lower pintle of the supports being hollow to accommodate such cable.

In the present instance a single cable 44' is provided, having-hand grips 45 and 45 at its opposite ends. The cable 44 extends from the handgrip 45,,over the pulley 4I, thence'downto the pulley 3B, aboutthe pulley 36-andupwardly -to theequalizing pulley 43,- over :thepulley 43 and downwardly to the pulley 3'1, ;ab0ut the pulley .31;

by the cable 44, it rests on the lower frame member I8, cushion means in the form of washers 49 'By utilizing detachable dumbbells 34 and 35 pintles I i and I2 from the surface of .the bars. I3..

for weightsinthe mechanism I, exercises involva recliningyposture a strap; 5!] -.-is provided at'the free end of the lid 3 for engaging thefeet -ofithe user; "This strap 50.,-has; a snap hook 5| atieach -end for detachably- -securing theestrapitoeyesufl ,priate. stops 22.

tion on the table-passing his ,feet beneath :the

and 53 formed .on the brackets-J9 and: 20.

The use of chest weight imechanism1is., *wel1 known and will not ibe-edescribed; In using {this part of the apparatus," the ;frame=l-0 ;is positioned vertically. Inusing ;the 1id'73 as an "exerciseatable, it is positioned at a desired inclination, by engaging :thelpintles I-I and'I-2 withx the appro- The usernt-hen takes :his posistrap 50. Exercises taken in an inclinedgposition withthe head downhave-certain known advantages. By:making thertable adjustablethe inclination can :be accommodated :to..1thesst1tength of the user.

Whenvit ;i-s-'desired1:to;-f.old or close the apparatus, the zdumbbells :34 and P35 :are removed from the carrier 3|, andtplaced-pmashelf-54pmvidedat one end of thewbase 2: This shelff will also accommodate conveniently variousiaccessories which "may bezused with the apparatus.

I claim 1. Inexercise apparatus, means df'ormlng a base, a chest: weight mechanism "including a frame supported ton-the base; and azmemberapivotally secured to Alike-138,585 andtadapted to engage the upper end of said frame, said membersand said frame cooperating :to support :each other with their engaged ends spaced-above uthe base, whereby said member 'is inclined upwardly from its pivoted end, providing an zexercisev table.

2. In exercise apparatus; 711188118" forming a base, chest weight. mechanism :including :a :frame, means adjustably mountingrtl're :lower-vendzof said frame .on the baseand san inclined 'member hinged to the base and-extending "upwardly therefrom to appivotedwconnectediwith saidfframe at -its: upperrendysaidmember: and said :frame cooperating to-:support :each-other; saidimounting means "permitting :adjustment 'of'zth-e lower end of said frame-toward and awayiromthe' hinged connection whereby the:inclination of .Sfiidi-IIIBIII- bermay bealtered."

3. In exerciseuapparatus; -weight' mechanism the lower end of' said frameiwithin"said structure at spaced pointstalongfthexstructurelzmeans .movably connecting @theupper'endrofisaidiframe and the free end Z".ofzathe:ihin'gedunember, said .frame and ,isaid .hingednnemben: being'iadapted to told with respect to each other and to said structure, whereby said frame is supported within the base by said member and said support means, said member forming a closure for the base.

4. In exercising apparatus, a box-like base structure having an open top, a closure member hingedly connected at one end to said base, a weight lifting mechanism including a frame pivotally connected at one end to the free end of sad closure member and having its other end extending into said box, and means within the box supporting the last named end of said frame for adjustment with respect to said hinged connection, whereby to optionally support the weight lifting frame in a substantially vertical position or in a position to alter the inclination of the closure member.

PAUL A. BAILLEAUX.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS 

